SIOUX FALLS – After two years away from competition, the young University of Sioux Falls Men's and Women's Cross Country Teams opened the season with solid performances at the Augustana Twilight on Friday night at Yankton Trails Park.

In the kickoff event to collegiate cross country 58 teams and 372 collegiate runners registered and ran in the popular early season event. Led by freshman Morgan Gehl's ninth place finish in the 5,000-meter race in 18:42.51, the USF Women's Team played sixth with 195 points. The Cougars were third among NSIC teams in the competition. The University of South Dakota won the competition with 70 points and followed by Nebraska and Augustana with 83.

As for the men's team, they had a big performance from freshman Ben Morrison who placed 21^st in 20:24.06 in the four-mile run to lead the Cougar men to seventh place with 195 points. USF was second among NSIC teams as Augustana, which placed second with 35 points, was the only team from the league to finish ahead of USF.

"I thought tonight was a really good night for both teams, who had solid performances across the board," said USF Director of Track and Field/Cross Country Doug Petersen, whose teams will compete at the South Dakota State Classic on Friday, Sept. 10 in Brookings, S.D.. "I thought we had a number of surprises, including Ben Morrison, who had a really nice night. In addition, David Ecker and Aaron Voigt had solid races while freshman Caleb Rivera and transfer Jakob Hanna finished with good performances," he said. "As for our women's team, I was really happy the way Morgan (Gehl) competed and shined in her first collegiate meet. Overall, it was a great start for us and something that we can build on," noted Petersen.

Men's Results – Ben Morrison, freshman, 21^st, 20:24.06; Jakob Hanna, junior, 41^st, 20:47.54; David Ecker, junior, 51^st, 20:59.18; Caleb Rivera, 52^nd, 20:59.58; Aaron Voigt, junior, 54^th, 21:00.51; Micade Shumway, 81^st, 21:28.71; Chase Lather, 96^th, freshman, 21:41.62; Miles Olofson, freshman, 99^th, 21:50.60; Kade Bullion, freshman, 103^rd, 21:54.63; Christian Lietz, freshman, 104^th, 21:55.75; Zach Matzner, freshman, 122^nd, 22:07.51; Juan Castaneda, freshman, 133^rd, 22:16.27; and Ethan Kraft, freshman, 146^th, 22:27.11.

Women's Results – Morgan Gehl, freshman, ninth, 18:42.51; Khot Juac, freshman, 24^th, 18:56.12; Tianna Voigt, junior, 58^th, 19:41.81; Karlee Simmons, sophomore, 78^th, 19:58.74; Annika Aho, junior 84^th, 20:04.80; Jessica Lutmer, freshman, 87^th, 20:06.58; Zoe Cigard, senior, 95^th, 20:13.95; Ella Kolb, freshman, 112^th, 20:27.35; Cassidy O'Meara, sophomore 121^st, 20:36.79; Josephine Boyd, freshman, 128^th, 20:40.62; Gracie Bucher, freshman, 129^th, 20:40.88; Moriah Bullerman, freshman 161^st, 21:17.83; Hannah Ebert, junior, 176^th, 21:43.21; and Marcella Sierra, freshman, 178^th, 21:44.31.